[Anguirel]

RESULTS OF DAY FOURTEEN (M-e)

Though her heart still mourned Turin, outwardly Finduilas began to lead a life of reckless gaiety. She rarely slept, and wandered the palace, a goblet of wine almost always in each hand.

Mim noticed her increasing lack of discipline, and determined to use it against her. His rejection had turned his desire for elven maids to poisonous hatred. So it was that he slipped a deadly Petty-Dwarven venom into one of her goblets...

Now the effects of her debauchery began to show. She wasted away, shrunk, wrinkled, aged. When she died weeks later, she resembled an old mortal woman, even as Gwindor looked like an old man.

RESULTS OF THE CHALLENGE

Gwindor's life was now without hope or purpose. He spent company with the jester, Mim, taking pleasure from his bitter philosophising. By Mim's advice, he wandered carelessly beyond the Guarded Plain by night, and fell into the hands of Orcs. He gave away the secrets of Nargothrond without remorse. "Go there and bring their death and yours." Then he fell lifeless to the ground, broken by sorrow.

And so the Orc-host, led by Glaurung, surged into the Guarded Plain. But a messenger from ruined Dor-Lomin arrived, bringing Nienor the black sword of her brother.

In that hour Celeborn fell to the Dragon, and the army of Nargothrond was routed. Celebrimbor was slain in the caves, marshalling the citizens to resistance. But as Glaurung drew night to Galadriel in the palace itself, Nienor leapt from behind a pillar, and struck the monster in the belly with her brother's sword. So died Glaurung; and Nienor and Galadriel made their stand; but the Orcs were too many, and all Nargothrond at last was slain. In her last moment Galadriel wove an enchantment that brought the caves down upon them all; and so not one Orc of that horde escaped the ruin, and Gwindor's prophecy was made complete.

And Mim too perished in the caves his forefathers had delved.

It's Day Fifteen in Middle-earth! The contestants:

Tribes

VALAR

Elbereth
Ulmo
Mandos, Doom of

NOLDOR

Maedhros
Maglor
Ereinion
Idril
Salgant
Glorfindel

TELERI/SINDAR

Mablung
Cirdan
Elwing

MAIA

Uinen
Arien (with Sun)

MEN

Tuor

PEREDHIL

Earendil

FORCES OF EVIL

Morgoth
Sauron

The fifteenth challenge-the long-awaited Fall of Gondolin!